Al-Waqa'ie al-Misriyya birth of Egypt's official gazette
Egypt, History, 7/20/2001

Al Waqa'ie Al-Misriyya, Egypt's official Gazette was the first Egyptian newspaper to be issued in Arabic. It was founded by Mohammed Ali who assumed power as the Ruler of Egypt in November 1806 and the first issue was released in July 20, 1828. The Gazette, particularly in its early years was a major historical reference as well as an outstanding forum for the literary figures of the East in general and the intellectual and thinkers of Egypt in particular.

Since its inception, Al Waqa'ie was printed at the Government Printing Press in Boulaq, except for brief periods, during it had a separate printing press at the citadel district or annexed to the Ministry of Interior.

The Gazette was issued in four pages in a bilingual format, with the Turkish text on the right side and an Arabic translation on the left.

Each page is adorned on top with an illustration showing a flower planter and the name of the Gazette thereunder. The number of pages scarcely exceeded four. The Gazette normally covered domestic news relating to the Ruler, official councils such as the consultative council, Khedive cabinet, as well as provincial news from major cities like Alexandria. Some pages were assigned to trade issues and a few advertisements. The Gazette was supervised by Mohammed Ali himself.

Renovation and Amelioration of Al Waqa'ie: On January 11, 1842, Sheikh Rifa'a Rafie Al-Tahtawi, a prominent Egyptian thinker, was appointed by Mohammed Ali as the Editor-in-Chief of Al Waqa'ie. He retained this position until 1850 Rifa'a reorganised the Gazette along new lines. Royal, industrial, scientific and literary news were introduced, Rifa'a's prominent stature had the effect of giving increased weight to the Gazette and due consideration to Arabic, as the mother language of the country.

Accordingly, Arabic regained its prominence, with Arabic texts moving to the right side of the pages, and Turkish to the left. News were classified in order of importance. Apart from the improvements made to the Gazette in terms of layout and classification,

most important were the enhancement of topics covered. Instead of articles and subjects written in praise of the Ruler, major subjects of weight and effect in the East and Europe were introduced in the Gazette.

The Gazette was issued once and sometimes more than once a week, at a price of one piaster per copy and against a subscription rate of 24 piaster per semester.

AI Waqa'ie during the reign of Khedive Ismail Khedive Ismail rose to power in 1863, but he had shown no interest in the Gazette until November 1865. He laid new rules and regulation for the Gazette, which was released with a new layout, showing on top the date of issue. Printed in Boulaq, The Gazette was laid out in three columns in each page. Excellent Arabic and Turkish editors were assigned to the Gazette, supervised by a manager.

Ahmad Khayri Bey, the supervisor of Al Waqa'ie during Khedive Ismail's reign introduced significant enhancement to the Gazette. He was followed by Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Raheem, as an Editor-in-Chief starting Issue no 172. He remained in charge of the Arabic section up to 1876. The Gazette then provided wide coverage of foreign and domestic news, particularly on the Consultant Council.

Al Waqa'ie under Sheikh Mohammed Abdu Starting the issue no 933 released on October 9, 1880, Sheikh Mohammed Abdo took over as Editor-in-Chief of the Gazette.

Starting that day, the Gazette was issued on a daily basis, and had its own printing press. A detailed programme was made for the Gazette, showing its objectives and Scope of coverage.

Al Waqa'ie reach the apex of perfection under the supervision of Sheikh Mohammed Abdu. The prominent thinker and reformist adopted a sound Arabic style for the Gazette. Under him Al Waqa'ie played a serious role in the Egyptian public life. The Gazette published criticisms of the Government departments reports and court verdicts sent regularly to the Gazette. This had led to improved performance of such departments.

Al Waqa'ie from 1882 to date Al Waqa'ie continued to be published on a daily basis except for Fridays and official holidays, as was the case before the British occupation of Egypt in 1882. Few literary and social articles were published.

The front page layout was changed. The name of the Gazette was printed within a rectangle, with a crown underneath, showing Egypt's flag with a crescent and three stars in the middle. Starting, 1900, AI Waqa'ie started to publish commercial advertisements.

In 1911, a new layout was introduced, with the crown on top of the page and Egypt's flag within the crown, followed underneath by the phrase "An official Gazette of the Egyptian Government".

As parliamentary life was restored to Egypt in 1928, Al Waqa'ie published supplements, containing minutes of meetings of the House of Representatives and Consultative Council.

Starting 1932, the Gazette was published in a different fonts. In 1934, the number of pages of certain issue was noticeably increased, sometimes reaching 127 pages. In 1940, some issues totalled 442 pages.

The reason for such increase was that the Gazette used to publish texts of rules, regulations, laws, ordinances, results of public examinations and the parliament's minutes of meetings.

Al Waqa'ie under the Revolution regime and the Birth of the Official Gazette

In 1958, a republican decree was issued establishing the official Gazette with the purpose of officially publishing presidential decrees and laws, as well as ministerial decision. The Gazette was to be published on each Thursday of every week. In urgent cases, extra ordinary issues or supplements of the Gazette may released in other the scheduled dates of issue.

Starting issue No.168/1959, the Gazette was issued once more on a daily basis.

In 1967, the Gazette started to be published on a weekly basis each Thursday. Thus it became the office Gazette, where laws and decrees promulgated by the President and Vice-Presidents should be published. In cases of urgency, extraordinary questions may be issued.

A supplement called "Al Waqa'ie Al Misriyya" was issued on a daily basis. All decisions required by laws and ordinances to be made public, should be published in such daily supplement.

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